SS: Teuton Traditional Cache
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A slightly more challenging cache that forms part of the Shipwreck Series. For the series methodology and more info visit SS: Shipwreck Series via the related web page link. This cache can be accessed from Die Dam. Camp overnight or do a day picnic for R15 per person and R40 for the car. No day visitors 15 Dec - 15 Jan. This section can be done as a walk (park the car at the Barbara Gordon cache) or by 4x4.
The English steamer, 2,313 ton Teuton had left Cape Town on Tuesday 30 August 1881 under the command of Captain Manning and was en route to Port Elisabeth. At 19h20 that evening she struck a rock off Quoin Point. The rock was known and charted.
Although the Teuton was making water, Captain Manning decided that the Teuton could still reach the port of Simons Town. He ordered to man the pumps and -just in case- to ready the life boats. Instead of making a futile attempt to steam against the current back to Simon's Town he should have anchored and enabled the crew and passengers to get to safety. He then proceeded to head into deeper water. 3 hours later he realised that the pumps could not hold out the water. Not much later the propeller came out of the water and the bow went down.
Manning now realized the ship could not be saved and ordered to abandon ship. Captain and crew must have made a secure and relaxed impression: the first lifeboat parted from the ship with a lot of laughter and cheering. Whilst the second lifeboat was being lowered the bulkheads suddenly burst and the ship then reared her stern and plunged almost vertically into the depths of the ocean and sucking the first lifeboat into the vortex. Captain Manning never had to answer for his deadly error; he perished with the ship together with 235 other crew and passengers. Only the 36 managed to get out of the water and into three other lifeboats that were floating nearby.
Two lifeboats made it back to Simon's Town the following afternoon and the third lifeboat had been swept past Cape Point and was sighted in the evening near Duiker Point (Hout Bay). She made it back to Cape Town around midnight.
Only one body was found. Incredibly it was Captain Manning's and was found on Kommetjie Beach.
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(Decrypt)
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